Crash potentially electrifying

-Wreck sends truck onto support wire of power pole.

-Wreck sends truck onto support wire of power pole.

December 21, 2005|ALICIA GALLEGOS Tribune Staff Writer

SOUTH BEND -- Passing motorists slowed to stare at an odd sight along Miami Highway on Monday at the corner of Shively Road, and a nearby neighbor even braved the chilly weather to snap a picture before going back inside. But it wasn't a holiday lights display that had the curious drivers in awe. A two-vehicle crash at the intersection sent a white GMC Jimmy truck spinning onto the support wire of an electrical pole, coming to a stop vertically on the line. No one was injured in the accident, police said, but the predicament put workers in a risky position when removing the vehicle. "(It's) pretty dangerous," said St. Joseph County police officer Gary Newcob. "As you can see, the pole's about ready to break. The transformer's sparking." The accident happened about 4 p.m. when the GMC's driver, Scott Shearer, 38, was headed east on Shively and ran a stop sign, colliding with a red Ford 4-by-4 pickup truck headed north on Miami Highway, according to police. The impact spun the Jimmy onto the support wire near the westbound lane of Shively Road. Shearer and the pickup's driver, Larry Campbell, 46, declined to comment at the scene. In addition to the electric discharges, a low crackling hum began sounding from the transformer as police and workmen decided how best to handle the situation. A Northern Indiana Public Service Co. worker at the scene said workers would likely have to shut off the line's power before removing the truck. It was unclear if this actually happened or how many residents were affected. NIPSCO spokesman Tom Cuddy said late Monday that there were no reported outages or unusual events near that area handled by his company. Indiana Michigan Power spokesman David Mayne also did not have any information of reported outages near the Miami Highway/Shively Road intersection managed by the power company.Staff writer Alicia Gallegos: agallegos@sbtinfo.com (574) 235-6368